WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2022

So is that going to sit on the ground then @Tinkerbelle61 ?

 

For the moment we are going to put it on the fire pit (previous photo where I cast it) as this is down in the garden by the fruit trees and we already had few small features on the pit lid with water for the birds to drink. It was when I saw a starling having a morning bath in the small drinking bowl I decided to make them a bath. Hoping as the fire pit is already known to the birds as somewhere to get a drink, they will find the bath quickly.

OH and I were discussing a large pedestal design earlier which would be better, that might become MKll version. Can never have too many bird baths

 

If anyone is interested, this was my research....

Make the perfect bird bath

 

I've been making soil blocks and sowing seeds in some of them. My first batch of 4 kinds of chillies did not germinate so I have resown those. Some in blocks and others, I'm now trying the paper towel and sealed plastic sandwich sized bag.

It is up to -5 outside so I guess the snow is not going to melt, nor the grass do any growing which means mowing the lawn also won't be happening

 

I've been online shopping again I'm afraid - I ordered a chocolate vine which I'm hoping will grow Cadbury Whole Nut bars, but I suspect my expectations may not be realised.

Other than I haven't done much substantial by way of gardening - I chased off a squirrel (the dogs were apparently off duty) and set up what looks like a smallscale budget pallisade of sticks in front of the back beds because when the dog aren't on squirrel duty, they like to dig holes there and think ferns are cushions. I don't reckon it will last long but fingers crossed

Hope everyone and their gardens are doing well

 

I think that's the theme to the Littlest Hobo In all serious though, that's bloody impressive and I take my hat off to you

 

Beeze are good. First buzzer on the wildflower meadow of sorts in the front garden. Spring has sprung, and so have the weeds, so it’s knee pad time in the sun for a while.

 

That's 3 of 4 buddleia cut back and cut up, 1 to go. I'm shattered already haha

 

Dug up 3 gooseberry bushes that don't fruit very well and planted 2 lupins, 1 knautia,2 aquilegia and 3 hardy fuchsias in their place

 

Chased off a rat and it's mate which have appeared in the garden in the past few days. We try to be pretty careful about what we put on the compost so not sure exactly why these bold visitors are so out there. They look quite cute though - fantastic condition. The missus has determined though that 'they have to go' so I suspect I will be tasked with this soon... seems a bit sad, but I also don't want rats setting up shop, doing a bit of sunbathing, raising a family and opening pub in the garden so I'll probably cave and do it.

Otherwise, have planted enough seeds to cover the parish. As usual. Early germination results have been patchy, but found a new variety of peat free compost at the weekend, with a fair coir element. Says it's good for water retention, and I have to say, it does seem a lot better than the others we've been using. So maybe I'll get better results.

Otherwise, just waiting for a little more heat in the soil and all those sunflowers can get planted out. Cannot wait!

 

Took advantage of a beautiful day to paint the new handrails (previously just the blacksmith's primer), paint numbers on my refuse bins and patched a hole in a fence panel.

 

Left work early for an opticians appointment, but far too early so had to kill time (any excuse) and found a lonesome pear tree just begging to come home with me!




It’s not self pollinating, but we already have an eating and a coking apple tree, a pollinating crab apple tree and a plum tree, so I assume that it will be okay to plant this amongst them?

Or is it determined by the rootstock?

Have loosened off the cling film around the roots, which look pretty healthy, and put it in a bucket with about 6” of water, it’s in the unheated greenhouse until Friday when I’ll have time to plant it.

Driving glasses all sorted too, only two weeks to wait for them, I might finally start to enjoy my commute from Suffolk to Essex!!

 

It's usually better to have 2 of the same kind of tree but different type if they aren't self pollinating, I have 3 apples, 2 pears, a cherry and a plum. Don't take my word for it though as I only planted mine last winter and they were only tiny babies but I'm sure that's what I read.

 

I dont think an apple will pollenate a pear, likewise plum.
The rootstock has no effect on pollination.

 

Thanks for clarifying that Pete. I thought that was the case. My plum tree is self fertile thankfully. I have no room for any more trees haha.